New name, old face on Coventry

Coventry Village just welcomed a new Thai restaurant. Its name is a reminder of an earlier gift shop on the same road, and its food a reminder of a former occupant.

In late January, High Thai’d opened at the former location of the popular Mint Café. Tony Chaichana, a partner in the new restaurant said the name plays on "high tide," a Thai expression for an opportunity that one should seize. Similarity to the name of a Coventry Road gift shop that closed in 2005—High Tide Rock Bottom—is coincidental.

Chaichana is a native of Thailand. With a degree in civil engineering, he arrived in Cleveland three years ago to seek his MBA. He was thrilled to learn of an opportunity to invest in his first Thai restaurant in Cleveland Heights. "I love meeting and serving my customers, who are open-minded and adventurous. They enjoy being exposed to new cultures, and they are enthusiastic to try new dishes," Chaichana said.

Chaichana employs three chefs from the Mint Café, plus a newcomer from Chicago. "What you used to eat at Mint Café, you can also find here," Chaichana guaranteed. New dishes include Duck Choo Chee (sliced boneless duck with vegetables in choo chee curry sauce), and Cleveland Heights Treasure (a combination of seafood and vegetables, sautéed in a mild sauce).

In the next months, Chaichana plans to make his restaurant even more authentic by adding side dishes of sticky rice and rice noodle, in addition to the usual white and brown rice.

Tips for eating the Thai way

Thais use spoons and forks as eating utensils. They rarely use chopsticks unless they are eating noodle soup.

Thai soups are usually eaten together with rice and other dishes because they are spicy and full of flavor.

Thais like to order many dishes and share them with their dining partners.

High Thai'd, 1701 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights; 216-321-5000 

www.highthai.com

Hours:

Mon.–Thu. 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.; 5 p.m.–10 p.m.
Fri.–Sat. 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.; 4 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
Sun. 4 p.m.–9:30 p.m.